Monday, December 1, 2014

Update: Suspect Sought In Drug Trafficking Investigation

UPDATE: A man wanted
by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a long-term narcotics trafficking investigation has
turned himself in.

Rafael Lesende, 43, was being booked into the Collier County jail after
he turned himself in to CCSO on Monday afternoon.

Media attention and the knowledge that people were looking for him after
the Sheriff’s Office published a press release asking for the public’s help in
finding Lesende played a role in him turning himself in, deputies said.

Lesende is the 15th suspect who has turned himself in or has been
arrested since a Nov. 13 operation by CCSO, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide
Prosecution and the Drug Enforcement Administration to arrest those involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy that has
spanned decades in South Florida.

Lesende was wanted
on an active warrant for conspiracy to traffic cocaine 400 grams or more.
His bond has been set at $500,000.

The Collier
County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a man
wanted in connection with a long-term narcotics investigation that has netted
14 people so far and spanned decades in South Florida.

Rafael Lesende, 43, is wanted on an active warrant for conspiracy to
traffic cocaine 400 grams or more. His bond has been set at $500,000.

Lesende is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 190 pounds with
black hair and brown eyes. His last known address is 311 3rd St. S.W. in Golden
Gate.

Detectives say he is known to frequent the Naples Manor area in East Naples,
where he has family living on Gilchrist Street and Floridian Avenue. He is also
known to frequent Everglades City and Isles of Capri, where his vessel, “Sea
Note,” is docked at Capri Fisheries, 218 Kon Tiki Drive.

Lesende is known to drive a black GMC Denali with Florida license plate number
S531TM.

Anyone with information on Lesende’s whereabouts is asked to call the Collier
County Sheriff’s Office at 239.252.9300, or to remain anonymous and be eligible
for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1.800.780.8477.

On Nov. 13, CCSO, in cooperation with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s
Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Drug Enforcement Administration,
rounded up 13 suspects whom detectives say conspired to traffic more than $1
million worth of cocaine. A 14th suspect turned himself in later.

On Nov. 13, 2014, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, along with its partners
at Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Drug
Enforcement Administration, conducted an operation to arrest those involved in
a drug trafficking conspiracy that has spanned decades in South Florida.

This
investigation, initiated by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, has been
ongoing for approximately two years.

“The individuals who have been arrested in connection with this investigation
are part of a drug trafficking organization that has plagued the citizens of
South Florida for decades,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “Some
have previous arrests and others have evaded arrest until now.”

The conspiracy was not confined to any single jurisdiction and arrests have
been made in Dade, Collier and Lee counties Thursday. Residences and vehicles
were searched based on K-9 alerts, consent and search warrants. During the
searches U.S. currency, vehicles, firearms and narcotics were seized at various
locations.

"We, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Collier County
Sheriff's Office, have brought down this large-scale drug trafficking ring that
has funneled drugs onto South Florida streets for years. My Office of Statewide
Prosecution will aggressively prosecute these defendants," stated Attorney
General Pam Bondi.

During the investigation detectives seized or purchased more than 13 kilograms
of cocaine, with a street value of $442,000. Those involved in the conspiracy
conspired to traffic approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine with a street value
of approximately $1.02 million.

On Nov. 13, detectives seized approximately 10 ounces/283 grams of cocaine with
a street value of $13,000, approximately 6 pounds of high-grade marijuana with
a street value of $18,000, approximately 14.46 ounces/405 grams of
methamphetamine with a street value $15,000, 6.5 grams of Xanax, four vehicles,
two handguns and more than $40,000 in U.S. currency.

Some people connected to the organization have yet to be located. Their
warrants will remain active until they are apprehended.

Summary of the allegations and charges:

Erlin Y. Carrasco Conspired in total to traffic approximately 2,710 ounces (75,904) grams of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5) (first-degree felony).
•Trafficking in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150 kilograms, in
violation of F.S.S. 893.135(1)(b)(1)(c).

Jonny Gonzalez-Tia Conspired in total to traffic approximately 51 ounces (1,428 grams) of cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Tomas E. Ruiz-Serrano Conspired in total to traffic approximately 402 ounces (11,259 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Francisco Gato Jr. Conspired in total to traffic approximately 972 ounces (27,216 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).
•Trafficking in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150 kilograms, in
violation of F.S.S. 893.135(1) (b) (1) (c).

Enrique Henry Lesende Conspired in total to traffic approximately 289 ounces (8,092 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Fredrico Solis-Contreras Conspired in total to traffic approximately 979 ounces (27,422 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).
•Trafficking in cocaine 28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams, in violation
of F.S.S. 893.135(1) (b) (1) (a).

Jose Miguel Diaz Conspired in total to traffic approximately 385 ounces (10,780 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Juan Rafael Ramos Conspired in total to traffic approximately 4 ounces (112 grams) of cocaine
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Cristopher Thomas Ocampo Conspired in total to traffic approximately 2.5 ounces (70 grams) of
cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Joel Melqui Vanegas Conspired in total to traffic approximately 3 ounces (84 grams) of cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Jeronimo Mendez-Cruz Conspired in total to traffic approximately 3 ounces (84 grams) of cocaine.
•Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less than 150
kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Orlando Daniel Avalos
Conspired in total to traffic approximately 258 ounces (7,224 grams) of
cocaine.
•Charging him with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine 400 grams or more, but less
than 150 kilograms, in violation of F.S.S. 893.135(5).

Nicolo Busi Trafficked approximately (9) ounces (255 grams) of cocaine
•Trafficking cocaine over 200 grams in violation of F.S.S. 893.135.
•Possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute in violation
of F.S.S. 893.13-1a2
•Possession of marijuana over 20 grams in violation of F.S.S. 893.13-6a
•Possession of controlled substance Xanax in violation of F.S.S. 893.13-6a